This program builds upon the foundations of physical geography as an integrating science that examines the origins, contemporary development, and processes of Earth’s natural and human-modified surfaces. All participating faculty place strong emphasis on the theoretical underpinning of their research and teaching.
The program is designed to provide students with a set of skills they can use to help solve societal problems and to achieve solutions to important scientific problems in physical geography that relate to the dynamics of rivers, watersheds, and landscapes. Research opportunities for new students can be found here.
Faculty in this program also have strong cross-campus connections with other water-related research programs in Geology, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, and with scientists in the Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, Illinois Natural History Survey and the Illinois Water Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey, all of which are located on campus.